Wire feeder



March 4, 1958 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 Y.

K. H. ANDREN WIRE FEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

,4 TTO/ A/Exs.

March 4, 1958 K. H. ANDREN 2,825,512

' WIRE FEEDER s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

A 7-70 E/VEYS.

-March 4, 1 958 K. H. ANDYREN WIRE FEEDER 3 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. '19. was

4 5 T u: w

INVENTOR g' 4 Arrofixvfxs.

United States Paten t WIRE' FEEDER Kfrl IfL-Andren, Greenfield,'Wis., assignor to "Artos Engmeering Company, 'Miiwaukee, Wis., a corpora- 1 fion of 'Wisconsin Applic'afion ctober.19',--1953,Serial No. 386,984

s claims. (01:242-45 The present invention relates "generally to. improve- ----ments in the art of longitudinally playing out elongated stock .from asupply source to-a .place of utilization of i the material, and relates:morespecifically vto improvements in the construction and operation of automatically functioningtmechanism for accurately feeding wire or the like fromasupply reel-to a machine suchas' a cutting -ai1d/ or'stripping-machine for the wire stock. v The primary object of my invention is to providezan improved feeder for wire stocks or other-elongatedma- J terialf-Whichis simple'but durable in construct-ion .and readilyadjustable and operable to automatically and effectively feed the stock from-supply to demand sources utmost precision. Vt/hen;operatingmachines for-cutting,'strippingimarkiii ngor'bthefwise sub-dividing continuous insulated wire ""withdrawf from afsu'pply reel, into. successive 'len gths' i'for diversetus'es,itiis usually desirable to-pe'rform the .o'perations"'in' rapid succession and with. extreme accuracy. 'l'In' 'orderto enable'such performance ito'be' acco'rnpli'shjed the wire stock should preferablyibe fed to ""thesefmachinesat a constant predetermined rateand in successive-lengths substantially corresponding ito "those ofthe' final sections desiredahd under approximately. uni- 'formtension. "Since boththe weight 'an d'the' diametenof T'the"wire"supply reels -varies to agreat extent ;as" the'op'eration ofthe-stock utilizing machine continuesfandfihe demand-for wireiby these machinesmay also beva'ried, it *is-*ne'cessary ,to'provide some kind er prefeedinglmechanismfor withdrawing the stock from the reeland for 'delivering if'as required to the cutting, 'str-ipping"or finaiking zone; and while some attempts have-heretofore "'b'een"m"ade' to provide "such mechanism none ofithese prior devices have been entirely satisfactory especially when used in conjunction'with heavy and loosely wound wire su iply coilsor reelsfsince they'have faildtdtneet ---'one"or more of the requirements.

*Itfis there'fore an important object of this invention to provide- 'animproved wire prefe'eder which functions aurbmmih1ym= meet all of the above mentioned resquirements with extreme accuracy, and which mayalso be -readilyadjusted tocomply with varying conditionsof bp'e'ration.

Another important objeot -ofthe present invention is to' provide an improved power driven prefeeding' unit for wire stock 'or the like; which will ifectivelycooperate -with variable supply a'nd demand sources w insure proper 'de'livery of the materiaktothes'ource (if-utilization under varying'operatingconditions.

F Avfurtheriimportant object of the" invention isi to pro- Wide" a'compac'twire feeding mechanism whichtis iadapted lto constantly withdraw wire'from a coil or heavy' reelnnd 2,825,512 3 Patented vMarni, .1953

too

.trica'lly operated and controlled tocooperate witha wire :"cutting and. strippingmachine in. accordance withlrthe *tion of a -typical commercial wire feeder embodyingthe functioningiand requirements of-such a machine.

" These'and' otherimore specifi-c objects and advantages "of the invention'will be apparent fromltheiolloWing de- "tailieddescription from which it .will be "observed Ethat the gist of "the improvement is thejprovisiomof a-w-ire feeder having' arotor for withdrawing -wire-a-t appreifrom' a"supply re'el a motorhaving a power pulley for liverywheel for paying out wire to a placejof utilization, one orimore bodily movablewire Qriding wheels coacting with one'orJm'ore depending loops in'the w-ire between ':therotorandthe delivery wheel, and anele'ctric switch *operable by'the movablewhe'elto energize the-single or variablespeedpu'lley so astomaintain the rate of delivery of the-wire stock synchronized with'thedemandior wire multiple solenoids and fro-thereby slightly displace 'the at the place of utilization.

-A clear con'ception of thefeatures constituting the present improvementyand-of the-construction and' operasame, maybd'had" by referring to .the drawing accompanying and forming a part"ofthis'specification.in which like =r*eference=charactersi designate the' same" or. similar parts in the various views.

"Fig; 1 is a" part sectional front elevation of onebfithe T improved 'wire feeding units, showingthe wire stockand a fragment of thewire 7 supply reel in' dot-and-dash lines;

"Fig." 2-is a top-view of the mechanismshowniri'Fig. l,-but with the supply-reeland wire omitted;

'Figl 3 is a side view of the unit shown in'Figs. 1' and '2,-"looking toward'the Wire receiving side of themachine;

Fig. 4 is anienlarged fragmentary" 'front view bfthe solenoid' control switch and actuating mechanism of the w wirfeeder;

Fig? 5 is a side view .of the rotor and -motor pulleysand *of' thevariable speed "pulley interposed 'therebetween;

' Fig. 6 =is *anenlargd fragmentary side'view of the speedVaryingmechaniSm cooperating with the solenoids and: with i the manual 1 adjusting" mechanism;

Fig. 7 is' -anfenlarged front'view of-thevariable'speed "pulleyg' shcwi'ng the samein minimum-Speed transmitting i position;

Fig. 8 is a 'similar'ly enlargedfront w'ewbf the same variableispeed pulley,"but"showing the same in maximum speed transmitting position;

"Fig: 9'-is a'side view of'the rotor which initially-"Withdraws the wire stock from the supply reelt at 'either of "two" speeds; showing the same set for higlrspeed withdrawal Fof the wire;

T'Figx- 10 is afronteviewof ithe :same wire'withdraw- "ingrotoryand "Figi llaisi'anelectrical diagram iof the' propellingmotor,- solenoids"andicontrol switch. of the feeder,

While: the' invention ihase'been ShGWII: Sand 1 described herein: as' being especially applicable ,totfeeders :for. longi- 4 tudirfallyv advancing and feeding t insulationcovered: wire z-istockiw'ati a idefinite rate of-J'speed, from a supplyvreelfto a wire cutting' and insulation: stripping machine':=or:,the like; it? isnot my desire or intention to unnecessarily re :strictits-utility to such a device; and it isialsouc'ontemplated- .that; specific descriptive terms employed =-herein be given. the: broadest, possible interpretation -consistent with the actual disclosure.

:eReferring toethe drawings,;.the.improved--wiret feeder shown'iherein :comprises insgeneral', ashase-plate -14 hav- Jug a'rpair 'ofwire supply reel supports (IS-end arplatform-16 mounted thereon by upright rods'1 7, 18 respectively; a rotor 19 and a pressure roller, 20 mounted uponthe platform 16 and' being cooperable to withdraw wire stock 21 from a supply reel 22 rotatably mounted upon the support "15; 'an electric motor 231'carried by i the base plate' 1'4 beneath the platform 16;a'variable speed V-sheave or pulley 24 movable vertically between the base plate 14 and the platform 16 and being drivingly. 7 connected by V-belts 25, 26 with the motor power pulley 27. and with the rotor driving'pulley 28 respectively; a

; assure wire delivery pulley or wheel 29 journalled on the platform 16 at the upperend of one of the column rods '18 for discharging wire stock 21 to a place of utilization;

a verticjally'movable jockey wheel 30 ridingby gravity within a dependi g loop 31'of the wirestoek 21 between the rotor 19 and thedeliver'y who e129; a pair of upper andlo'wer solenoids 32, '33. respectively having vertically movable plungers 34 'cooperable withfone end'of. a lever 35 the opposite end of which is connected'to a pivoted arm 36lsupporting the sheave pulley 24,.Whilerthe medial shown in Fig. 5, is of well known construction.- As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, this pulley 24 has two laterally spaced opposite end'discs, 54, 55 whichare fijted on-a bushing 53 which slides and rotates on the pulley shaft 56, and, also has an axially movable intermediate disc 57' slidable along the bushing 53 and cooperable with the end discs 54,55 to provide annular V-grooves of as depicted in Fig. '6,"and when; the pulley 24rislin fits extreme lower'position. asshown in Fig.7,the motor propolled belt will ride near the outermost peripheral fulcrum 37 of the lever '35 is suspended from an adjusting screw 38; and an electric control switch 39 for the solenoids 32, 33' operable by the movement of thefloating jockey wheel to alternately energize these solenoids J and to thereby move the variable speed pulley.24 in opposite directions} y s a The .base plate 14 and the upper platform 16 should be of sturdy construction and the supporting rods '17, 18 f V i rods 18, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4." The base 14 of the unit is for the. supply roll 22 and platform 16 may be of any desired length depending upon the contemplated use of the feeding unit; and the feed rotor 19 is preferably rotated :at the desired speed 'by means of a speed reducer '41 of well known construction mounted upon the plat form 16 and which is driven by the upper sheave or pulley 28, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The pressure roller 20 is journalled on a lever-42 which has its swinging end portion 7 connected tothe platform 16by a helical tension spring wire 7 stock.

43, and therotor 19 is preferably provided with-ad- 7' joining wire engaging portons 44, 45 of large and smaller diameter respectively with which the roller 20 and the wire stock 21 are interchangeably cooperable in order. to

varythe definite rate of-withdrawal of the wire from the V a reel. 22. With this assemblage, when the roller- 20' and the wire 21 coact with the larger rotor portion 44 the wire stock will beowithdrawn from the reel 22 at a higher rate of speed than when the roller and wire are caused to coact with the smaller rotor-portion 45, and the jour- 1 nal shaft 46 of thepress; roller, 20 and the fulcrum-pivot 48'ofthe'lever 42 mm: suflic'ient length to permit this roller to be brought int'o; coaction with: either rotor portrion 44, 45, as shown in Figs..3 and 9. They platform 16 also has a small'horizontal guide; roller47 vertically adjustably mounted thereonandwhich may be caused to coactiwith the wire .21 as it advances toward the feed rotorj19in order to, preventexce'ssive' whipping of the 'Theafixed or constant :speedelectric motor 23 which.

is mounted upon the base plate 14' and drivesihe wire ,prefeeder, should ,be electrically installed I asishown in the diagram of Fig. 11, so that it will operate whenever 1 the stripping machine 'or wire utilizing device is functioning, and stops when there is'no demandfor wire stock. The motor 23 is supplied with current from a supply line 1 '49 'throu'gh astarter'50 having an actuating coil 51 which 'is'energia'ed from the control circuit ofjthe cutting and,

stripping machine, so thatthe prefeeder will alwa'y s startand stop-with the Wire utilizing: equipment; and an 'inl dicating device 52 which is adapted to be adjusted 'manual; 1 7 ly, should be set to the same reading as that of a similar device associated with ,the'cutting ands'trippingr'necha- "'nismr The'power supply forrthe propelling 'motor 23' and for the solenoids 32, 33- may however be-separate and independent from the power supply of the cutting and stripping machine or other wire utiliz ingdevice;

The-variable speedSV-slieaVe or pulley 24 with which,

portions of the discs 54, '57 andthe driven'belt 26;will simultaneously ride nearsthe innermost portions of the discs 55, '57-, whereas/elevation of the pulley; 2 4 to its highest position as inFig. '8 will cause'the. belt25tofride near the innermost portions of the'discs 54, 57 while the belt'26 willisimultaneously ride along the outermostperipheral portions of the discs'55, 57.

The peripherallygrooved wire delivery wheel 29 is pro- 7 1 tatable about'a fixed axisybut the peripherally grooved wire ridingfwheel"3 0 which issaddled in the wire loop 31, is rotatable about a shaft GQ'carriedby' a vertically movable block'61 slidably engaging twoof the upright fixed provided with aiixed guide 62 near the shaft 60, andthe block 61 has an outwardly projectingpini63near its upper end, this pin 63 being movable between andfalternately co-. operable with two collars 64,, 65 whichare adjustably serod against axial movement .while still permitting move- .ment thereof in either direction. by-the pin ,63 coacting .withthe collars. 64, 65. The solenoid control switch 39- a v is preferably of the double throw'micro. type and -has {an actuating arm 70 provided with a roller 711which is. 'engageable. by'the cam shaped upper eXtrernity'f/Z of the rod 66 wheneverthe latteris elevated by engagementof the pin'63 withithe upper collar. 64 so as to energize the coil-of the :lower solenoid 33. Howeverwhen therpin 63 engages thelower collar 65, the coil of the upper sole V noid 33 will ailtomatically noid 32 willbeenergized, while the coil of the lower soleb de n e R -J J 1 1 Theve'rtically spaced solenoids 32 33 of which either one may obviously be replaced by a tension spring counteracting theother, are fi redly suspendedfrom theplatform the-platform 16. by. means ofasturdy plate 74 to the lower portion of which the arm 36 is also swingably attached by a--pivot pin 75,' and the medial portion of' which is providedwith a guide projection 76 for'the adattached to the solenoid plungers 34. The. lever;3 5 which is swingable about the fulcrum 37 by the solenoid'plunger's 34 'isvertically adjustable with the aidof'the adjusting r screw'38'whichis journalled forrotation'within afbeare' r a ing 78 carried by the speed reducer '41, andhasa manipulatinghand wheel, 79 secured to its 'upper extremity for efiecting approximate adjustmentsgsee Figs. -3.jand 6; and

1 a ladder chain 77 the medial portion of which coacts 'with r a sprocketisecured to the pointer of the indicator. 52,1has

one end secured to the fulcrum 37 while its-opposite end is attachedto a helical tension spring.' This assemblage is such that the lever fulcrurnfpivot 37 may be raisedor lowered with the aid of the hand wheela 79 to manually vary the position of the pulley 24," and the lever 35 will also'be automatically actuated by means of thesolenoid plungers 34 to 'raise or lower this variable speed pulley,

the endless V-belts 25, coact and which is connected to the power pulley 27 by :the beltr25'fas.

' while' the manual shiftiiig'of the iuk'mmwiiiacmare the frndrcato'r 'pointer.

When the im rove-awe p'rere ng saunas been con- 'strncted'and 'assembledas above described the motor 23 maybe started *and'th'e pre-feeder should first have its 79 should preferablybe such that-it will'take'care or the ln average demandby the pulsatin'g feed of the wire cutting and-strippingrnachihe; After" such approximate :synchronization has been effected and the "-wire 21 has been strung through the mechanism'asindicated iir-dot-anddash lines in Fig. 1, wire stock-will be withdrawn-from the supply reel '22 by tlie positively rotated'rotor 19 and by the pressure roller 20-"c'oacting'therewi'th: If the demand is for relatively long successive lengths of wire 21 the wire stock-should be caused to-coact with'the larger rotor portion 44-as inrFigs-s 9 and IO; and if this demand is for very short lengths, then the roller and the wire zilsh'ould be caused to coact with the pulley portion "45 of smallest diameter; but in either, 'case the rotor 'l9 will be constantly rotated -at a speedcornmensurate with the,

average demand "for freshwire stock.

Since the demand for wire '21by the cutting'and stripping machine is intermittent-and other factors exist it is extremely difficult to obtain-and to maintain precise control of the-feed with' the 'aid of the hand Wheel adjustment alone. In order to insure such precise control of the total average feed, the floating wheel 30 cooperating with the wire loop 31, and the variable speed pulley 24 are provided, and function as follows. The loop 31 should be of sufficient length to normally provide enough wire stock in its downwardly and upwardly advancing stretches between the pulleys 29, 30 to meet the several pulsation demands for wire by the pulsating feed of the wire cutting and stripping machine without actuating the solenoids 32, 33; and the tension on the wire stock in these stretches of the loop will always be constant and equal to one half of the combined weight of the jockey pulley 30 and its supporting block 61. As the rate of wire delivery from the reel 22 decreases the loop 31 will gradually shorten and cause the movable wheel 30 and its supporting block 61 to rise, and if the upward sliding of the block 61 continues until the pin 63 thereof engages the upper collar 64 and raises the rod 66 sufliciently to throw the control switch arm 70 to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, then the lower solenoid 33 will be energized and will cause the plunger 34 thereof to swing the lever 35 in avcounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 6 thus causing the variable speed pulley 24 to move upwardly with the result that the feed rotor 19 will rotate at higher speed and will thereby tend to lengthen the loop 31.

If the-rate of delivery of wire stock from the reel 22 increases beyond the demand, then the wheel 30 and the block 61 will gradually drop, and this descent of the block may continue until the pin 63 ultimately contacts the lower collar 65 on the rod 66 and thereby releases the switch actuating lever 70 which will then swing to the right as viewed in Fig. 4. This movement of the switch arm 70 will cause the upper solenoid 33 to become energized and to move its plunger 34 upwardly so as to swing the lever 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 6, thus causing the variable speed pulley 24 to descend with the result that the feed rotor 19 will rotate at a lower speed and will thereby tend to cause shortening of the loop 31. This automatic shortening of the wire loop 31 will cause the wheel 30 and its supporting block 61 to gradually rise and to repeat the cycle of operations.

The demand for wire stock by the cutting and stripping machine thus automatically controls the rate of withdrawal of the wire 21 from the supply reel 22 by causing the solenoids 32, 33 to be alternately energized so as to elevate 'oilower the --variable speed pdreitnniehfia 'turn-v'aries-the speed 'of-ro'tation of the feed rotor 19;" The rotor 19 will normallybe revolving continuously butat variable speed, and the hand wheel 79-and serew- 38 which coac'ts with the fulcrum pivot 37 oaths '-lever 35 inay beiitilized 'tb effectively synchroniiethe operationof the *pirlt'ederwith 'that of the cutting and stripping niachine The pressure a roller 20 which maybe c'aus ed to coaet-wi'th eith'erportion 44,'-45 of-the rotor '19, -an'dwliich is carried by the fever 42, is resiliently urged against the rotor peripheryby the tension spring 43 :SQ'35'TO insure gradual but-positive withdrawal of the fresh wire-21 the reel-j22at a{ra'te ofspeed'com'mensurate with that of the wire demand re'gardl'es'ofthe diameter of the supply of -wire-stock:wound upon thei'eel; and the guide roller 47 which'rnaybe positioned closely=above the advancing wire-21 serves to insure smoothentr'y of the wire stock to the ir'iitial-feedingzone.

The rise'andf'fall of the floating-wheel 3'0 whichrides within'the wire loop 31 and of which there maybe several suceessivesets' arranged in series as shown in my-Pat'ent Ive-2,560,204; granted July 10, 1951, 'is automatically e'ifectedby-variations in'the speed on the wire 21 ash is drawn away from the upper wheel. 29,and this up and "down movement-of the wheel '30 causes the pin 63 to travel between the' spaced collars 64,65 carried by the switch actuatingrod 66; Since these collars 64,65 are adjustable Wi-threspect to the'actuatingrod, the, timing ofthe actuationiof the solenoid "control switch-may be varied to efrectively meet the demand for wire stock, and the various adjustments provided in the unit therefore insure automatic functioning of the prefeeder with utmost precision after proper adjustments have been eifected. The improved unit has proven highly satisfactory and successful especially when applied as a prefeeder for wire cutting and stripping machines, but it is not necessarily confined to such usage and may be utilized to deliver wire or the like to any other zone of intermittent or variable demand.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the wire prefeeder herein specifically shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for feeding wire from a reel to a pulsating source of utilization, a rotor operable at various selected constant speeds to withdraw wire from the reel and having a propelling pulley, a motor having a power pulley for driving said rotor propelling pulley, a variable speed transmission bodily movable in opposite directions between and being operatively connected to said pulleys, a lever movably supporting said transmission, means for selectively varying the position of the fulcrum of said lever to cause said rotor to deliver the wire in accordance with the average demand at the source of utilization, opposed solenoids coacting with said lever to move said transmission in opposite directions, a wire guide wheel for paying out the wire to the pulsating source of utilization, a jockey wheel riding by gravity in a depending loop of suiiicient length to meet at least one pulsation demand from said source, said loop being located in the advancing wire between said rotor and said guide wheel and said jockey wheel constantly maintaining uniform tension on the wire stock in said loop, and a switch operable by the rise and fall of said jockey wheel to alternately energize said solenoids and to thereby displace said transmission in opposite directions to maintain constant speed of the wire within the limits of said average demand.

2. In a mechanism for feeding wire from a reel to a pulsating source of utilization, a rotor operable at various selected constant speeds to withdraw wire from the reel and having a propelling pulley, a motor having a power pulley for driving said rotor propelling pulley, a variable 1 ley t;tmqva z zs p pt i s i t ansm s o me n f 1s c e iva y szth nbs q 9 i e ul umi a ev rt auses rotor de y sth iw i ad dan W F $l' FY -fi' mQW' sai Ya b 9 ss e d' Pe et-i ztwith 1 h; ave edem at t e s ce iofpu i za qs e t n g L esu e er- Pa i 1 1.. h V oppos edij solenoidseoacting withsaid lever to move :said Wire to t epulsafing source of utilizatioma j clgey wheel :tt sm s pn ns p'pos t e ti n a w te fliqe h elf P y qu t e w ito t at n 's t e o ti izat on joc jwhe h v ais u or me e l a on r defi path; arid riding; by; gravity in a depending loop of sufi en t ttq m et at t Qn l a o an s o a 7 .fs' s e t r able e d. pu le m n ta t he ws ie iti i a qi bpos dns te o d enacti i t byi t i 'i xd ndi 106p ivsufik e tl n h' toxtmeet severaltdemand pulsations-from'said source, said 7 loop being; located in the advancing;wire between said- -rotorsand said guide wheel andtthe Weight of said jockey [wheel constantly maintaining uniform tensiononthewire a h h t s? r l t v l ar lifi r r the position of the fulcrum of said lever; to cause said ro tgr noids' and totherebydisplacesaid lever and said transistoelg in saidloopyanda switch operable by the ri'seand fall sof said jockey wheel to alternately energize said sole- 15 noids and to therebytd isplac'e said variable speed pulleyin F sa di qn ei sa d "1 99, b in 7 l tesi-r n the d n in e we a d r tor; an se d u de .whee ia the weight of; said jockey wheel 'and its-support constantly maintaining uniform tension; o'nf th e wire tst ockjn said gloop,: and ;a sw itch operab1e.by the'rise and fall of said 7 [within the limits of said average demand. 1 7 jockey wheel support to alternatelyfactuate said solea 7 V V V iieferencesiCited in-tlie (file of this patent i mission in opposite directions to maintain constant speed 2 W p 7 e pposite directions to maintain constant speed of the wire of thewire w ithin the limits of said avera'ge-tdemand V V UNITED STATES PATENTS p L j 3In a mechanism for feeding wire from -a reel to a 2,222,189; William Nov. '19, 1940;

izpulsating source of utilization, a rotor operable at various r 2,233,015 Kassell et a1. Feb. 25, 1941 selected constantspeeds to withdraw wire from the reel 2,255,935 a Lewellen etale Sept, 16, 194 11 and having a propelling pulley, a: motor having a power 25 2,338,605 Tuttle et a1 n Jan. 4, 1944 pulley for 'driving said'rotor propelling pulley, a variable 2,357,474 S mi, 9

: speed pulley-bqdily-movable invoppo'site directions between and being operatively connected by belts to 'said '7 9 99 Ny a1 1 17,71945' 2,593,540, Henry May 27,1952

power and propelling pulleys, a lever movabl y supporting 

